When you think of cloud computing, you probably think of lower costs. However, a recent Forrester Research report concluded that companies now spend as much on new projects as on ongoing operations. I see that in the field as well, both in formerly mothballed projects that are brought back to life and in the many new projects that kick off each week.

There are a few factors at work. First, we seem to be in a recovery. Second, we've avoided spending, so there is a huge application backlog. Finally, and perhaps the largest driver, is the movement to cloud computing and the mobile applications that leverage cloud computing.

What's strange is that we've promoted cloud computing as a means to reduce IT spending, yet it's causing the opposite, at least initially. However, instead of hardware and software costs, enterprises are buying cloud services and high-end consulting services, and they're hiring anybody out there who knows what AWS stands for (Amazon Web Services, by the way). The bubble is beginning to inflate, and the spending is rising sharply, thanks to the backlogs and the cloud.

What you need to watch out for is not the spending, but the value delivered. The dirty little secret in the world of cloud computing is that operational cost savings do not provide the value. Rather, the value comes in the operational agility of the cloud-based applications, considering elasticity and agility.

Although many cloud projects are sold as cost-reduction efforts, they often do not provide cost savings. You need to approach them instead for what they really are: strategic investments. Understand that the high initial spending at the front end will lead to a huge ROI and value in the back end -- at least if you're doing cloud computing the right way.

David S. Linthicum is a consultant at Cloud Technology Partners and an internationally recognized industry expert and thought leader. Dave has authored 13 books on computing and also writes regularly for HPE Software's TechBeacon site.